Draft rigging



Feb, 16, 1932. nys. aggyvs' y1,845,226

' DRAFT-Magma Filed April 5., 1927 2 sheets-Sheet I 4/ l 4/ 42 4/ gmc/nto@ Y WM,

'5 erally considered, is tlielprovision of draftV Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UNiTEDa'sTAri-:s

PATENT eprice :DONALD s. BAREOWS, OE' ROCHESTER, NEwjYoitx, AssIGNoa To THE sYMINGToN COMPANY, OE NEW Yonex; N. Y., A CORPORATION OE MARYLANDl DRAET RIciGrINGfV -Application filed April, 1.927. Serial No.. 181,176. l,

This invention relates todraft riggingand especially to cushioning mechanism therefor particularly adapted for use on railway cars.

' The principal object of my inventiomgengears or cushioning mechanism especially adapted for railway serviceand formed with a member slotted for the reception of a draft key, whereby the necessity Vfor a separate front follower, whenA using Farlow two-'key attachments, is obviated.` 4

An object of my invention is the provision of a drafty gear involving both spring and friction elements,-'said friction elements engaging wedge-shaped'portions extendinginwardly from end elements thereof andY ref siliently pressed thereagainst by leaf springs or other resilient means positioned between the 'same and an intermediate follower. n

`Another object of my invention is the pro'- vision of a cushioningmechanism involving end members'formed with inwardlyjextending frictional surfacesengaged byfriction n `tion relating to the vparticular arrangement andconstruction of the various parts willfbeshoesresiliently pressed thereagainst,`fone of said elementslbeing slotted for the receptionv ofan associated draft key, thereby adapting it to `serve as afront follower.`

A .further object of myl invention th provision of a cushioning'mechanism, adapt-A ed for use with railway draft rigging, involvn ing outer friction elements formed with friction vwedges extending towardl each other, friction shoes ,formed with correspondingly inclined friction surfaces normally engaging the friction surfaces on the wedges and ein'-V braced by an intermediate follower, resilient means positioned betweenouter portions of said-follower and pressing said'shoes toward each other and into engagement with the friction wedges, said follower being alined with respect to the outer friction n elements by retaining bolts passingthrough said elements vand follower andpermitting relative motion therebetween.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of Acushioning mechanism, adapted for use with railway draftfrigging,

involving a combination front hfollower and friction element slotted for the reception of a draft key and formed with a rearwardly extending wedge-shaped portionv providing friction surfaces, a rear elementladapted to 'serve as a rear; follower and formed with a foifllardly extending Wedge portion provid; ing inclined friction surfaces, an intermediate: follower positioned between the other followers Vand Yfriction shoesy extendingV through said Yintermediate follower ,withhcor respondingly inclined friction surface'smen-4 Agaging the friction surfaces on thefront and rear followers' andspringpressed into en'- gagemen't therewith by spring plates exerti ing pressure between said' shoes and oppositely .disposed surfaces on thefinter'mediate follower', 4said front and rear followers beingassembled with eachother and e the intermediate follower by retainiiigbolts extending therethrough with Asprings mounted about each bolt on both sides of said in-V A termediatefollower between` the end followers of the mechanism foreffecting release of thegear. y l i Other objectsand advantages of the invencoine apparent as thedescription proceeds'.

Referring tothe drawings illustrating my inventiointhe scope whereof isf-defined by the appended claims: Y L

' Figure l isa side elevation of an embodiment -of`my cushioning mechanism and an ,associated coupler, an associated backstop ,mechanism l especially adapted foruse as 'a friction draft gear for railwaycars and d esigned so that it will fit a draft gear pocket of kusual size. In lthe embodimentillustrat ed,l itis shown'assembled with Farlow'attachments although it is obvious that I do not Y wish to be limited to such use. In the present embodiment, the gear involves a front combination follower and frictionrelement 2, a rear combination follower and friction element 3, and friction shoes or intermediate friction elements l and 5 positioned therebetween.

The front friction element 2 is formed suficientlylong-so as to serve as a front fol" lower with Farlow attachments and, vfor that purpose, is provided with a slot 6 adapted to receive a usual form of rear draft-key 7.

i (notshown) as by means of rivets 14.

,The ,front friction `element 2 is formed with va rearwardly or .inwardly proJecting wedgefshaped ent'ension '15 providing"aul upper inclined friction surface 16 and a lower inclined vfrictionsurface 17. Likewise, the rear lfriction element'isformed with an inwardly or forwardly extendingprojection 18 provided with anaupper kfriction surface 19 and aflower friction surface 20. .The intermediate or upper friction element or shoe t is vprovided .with correspondingly inclined friction surfaces normally engaging the friction surfaces 16 vand 19 and pressed theieagainst by resilient means 21 which, in the ,present embodiment, involver longitudinally curved leaf. springs disposedwith their concave sides kdownwardly or .toward the center of thegear, said springs being received in .a'pock'et22r formed by longitudinal walls 23andltransverse walls 24 ofsaid shoe. rPhe intermediate or lower friction shoe bis likewise 'formed ywith correspond ingly inclined friction surfaces engaging the friction surfaces-17,.and20on the friction elements 2 and zand springfpressed .thereagainstiby curved lea-f springs 25 received in a pocket 2.6 formed bylongitudinal .walls '27 and transverse walls 28.depending from-the main web or base of the shoe 5. These leaf springs or platesare preferably longitudinally curved to correspond with the leaf springs 21,:that is, they are/disposedrwith their concavesides upwardly or inwardly.

`In order to provide for stressingvthe Springs21and 25.to.resiliently urge the shoes Land yagainst the friction surfaces of the outer friction elements, an'in'termediate follower l29 is provided, said follower embracing the shoesl and 5 and-springs21 and 2 5 or provided wit-h longtudinal apertures 3 0 and 31 in which said shoes are appropriately received.V Thewall or web portion 32, opposite the pocket 22, normally presses against the springs 21 and, through them, urges the shoe et into frictional engagement with the outer elements 2 and 3. In a similar manner, the wall or web 33 of the intermediate follower 29 normally engagesthe springs25 and, throughthem,presses the shoe 5 into fric.- tional engagement with the friction surfacesv of the elements 2 and 3. That portion 34 of the follower :29, between the `shoes 4 --and'5,

serves to limit inward `move1nent of said shoes as well as compressive movement of the gear or relative inward movement between the outer members v2'and 3 thereof, the end faces of the portion 34- being adapted for engagement by the Vadjacent ends of the tapered portions of `theiomer -frictionelements uponvfull Closure of the gear. .Compressive movement of the Vgear may Ialso Ibe limited and'provision made for retaining `thefollowersin properrelation .with respectto-each otherr by continuing.. the engaging surfaces of the central portion34 of the kintermediate follower 29 and the corresponding .ends'of the .wedge-shaped, portions 15 4and 18 asl edges or end surfaces ofthe V.side .walls of said members, as shown vmost clearlyfin Figure 1, whereby, whenthegear. isl compressed, a V.relatively great. area, of contactbetween .all

the Vfollower `members is effected `and,l,`atthe of .the front followenmember 2 .and'fthe k amount l.the :front wall portion .thereof ,projects beyondQthe transverse ,bolt-receiving wall 37,V provision is made forvcompressng the gearwithout thenends of the bolts eX- tending beyond the front face. oftheffollower 2. Each of said f bolts 35' and 36,.,preferably comprisesfa head 38 countersunkin the rear or transverse-wall .of the rear follower 3 and a:nut 3 9 ontheopposite end thereof, said nut beingdesira'bly Vretained in" position Lby means of a .cottero'rthelike 40.

EThe apertures in the members, Ithrough which thebolts 35and36 extend, Aare Ypreferably surrounded by annular ,flanges or collars 4l 1;. and said collars serve as spring locatingmeans ufor properly positioning release springs 4t2.Y ln the Vpresent embodiment,one.of suchrelease springs is l,provided on each retaining bolt on each side,of the intermediate follower 29 between said folico iii)

lower andthe front' andrear followers-2 and 3. In? this way; the front, intermediate and rear .followers 4are iresifliently i spacedv with respect toV each othery and'adequate means for` .effecting release of" the fgear are pro# vided-H 1 lThe gear may be'fasseinbled 'byfinserting the bolts aiidBGfthr'Ough/the apertures in the rear: follower?) and standiiigsaid follower on its rear-face with thethreaded-ends ofy the bolts -extending thereabove. #The ire-v leaseY springs 42, adjacent saidvrear follower; may then be placed in position, the-intermediate follower positioned thereabove Iori the bolts `35 and-"36 when: the shoes -t'and 5, withY their associated 'springs 21fya'n`d1'25; may-.be forced* inplaceyas will-ibefunder# stood. The front .follower '2 is then placed in position,' the nuts 39 tightened-to thelde; sired" extentnand the cotters ed-linserted,"

thereby holding theijparts'ofthegear in` proper assembled vrelation.- AIt isthought that the operation ofi the gear will'be understood without any further description,` fit being i clear that the resilientv engagei'nent betweenfthe shoes Land 5"'and thefriction l surfaces on the wedge 15` and l8efect the frictional resistance of thel gear while 'the springs 42` provide a-relatively slight amount of s ring resistance aswell as effect arelease oftiegear.' w ffl-j- Froi'n'the4 foregoing disclosure,' it will be apparent thatf have devised a' friction ,draft gear or cushioning1 mechanism 'particularly adapted for use with Farlowiattachments. A`decrease in the necessary length oftlie `gear with the slotted fronty follower' is effected by making the front .friction elementl with a corresponding slot which extends into the wedge-shaped inner 1 projection .which forms the friction surfaces fthe're'of. In this wayfa very desirable gear is produced which iseconomical, not only' of space, butv of ina-1 teriah i* y y Y. I

Having .now described'k my '-inveiition, I claim: i

1.1.. A cushioning 1 mechanism 1v comprising outer friction `elements 'formed' withl itrans verse walls and wedge-shaped portionslpro L vided with iiiclinedfriction ysurfaces extend? ingV inwardly therefrom, intermediate friction elements positioned therebetween and' form-ed vwith correspondingly vinclined fric# tion surfaces engaging thefriction surfaces on the outerelements 'and outwardlyy open# ing` pockets,V an intermediate-1 followereni` bracing and forming a s'top. -for said intermediate .friction elements, 'resilientineans" disposed in saidv pocketsand exerting/*force between said follower and intermediate fric: tion elements to press thelatter into engage-vr ment Vwith the'incline'd friction surfaces onv n 1f vaffroiitfriction el'ei'nentformed with `a rear'- registering apertures' in both of I 'said outer" I engaged by' saidjresilijent ineansisaid follower n being adapted for directengageinentfby the elements and follower for .holding the parts assembled* fl? f1' p. 2. A .cushioningV mechanism comprising outer. friction elements formedwith transt verse `walls-and. tapered portions extending inwardly therefrom and providing. .inclined frictionsurfaces;y inner friction shoes. posi-4 tioned therebetween fandl formed .-withlA correspondingly inclined; friction surfacesv en?. gagiiigthe friction. surfaces on theofuter elements, each .ofvsaid shoes being formediwith base.web VN-portionsj and@ longitudinal .and transverse webportions extending .therefrom forming pockets v,opening outwardly;Y .resilieiit *means positioned in said :pockets I and `pressing said' 'shoes againsts'the .friction surfaces on the.l elements, andjLanl intermediate follower encircling said'fshoes and" resilient meansv4 and provided: with abutment portions asA "adj acent J ends 'of I the: tapered portions ofthe outerfriction lelements .to limit IrelativeV n'ioi tien thereoftoward eachlother;

3. A lcushioningv mechanism!y '-coinprising'- 90; outer friction elements forined'with inward`- 1y: extendingI wedge-shaped@portions',frictionv shbes` .positioned .therebetween and formed. .with correspondingly inc-lined fric`` tion surfaces''engaging` the f friction surfaces Von "the "wedge-shaped; portions of the outer veleinentsgsaiil Vshoesbeingl formed with lon-` gitudina-l `and transverse.. webs forming out# wardlyf-fopeningl pockets; resilient means positi'oned: in said pockets; an intermediate follower; encircling 'sa'id` resilient. rmeans i and friction shoes 'fandepresenting' longitudinal` surfaces engaged 'by Tsai di resilient means f for stressing thefsamie and causing pressure to be exerted betweenthe friction 'shoes' and` outer 1.9.5 friction elements, and resilient means fdis-1 posed fbetween: saidffollower and outerfric-V tionfelements. y r 3.4.# A- cushioning mechan-i-sm V,comprising outer friction r' elements 1 formedV with -trans' 11.0

` i versewalls"andfWedge-shaped portions pro-1 vided with inclined friction surfaces extend-- ing A inwardly' therefrom, one of 1- said F fouterl elements beingV adapted to function eas afront*v follower andA so l yprovided with a "transverseY *1.15 slot adapted'lto receive a draftl key; said -slot extending Iinto said" wedge-slieped portion; whereby the length of the element is a inini-` muni, intermediate friction elements'f positioned between saidz outer vfriction elements 12 and formed i* with correspondingly' inclined friction1 surfaces enga-ging.l the frictionsu'r faces onthe outer elements,`1andineans for'v operatively holding said intermediate fric-Y tionelenients in engagement with the friction 125 surfaces jonthe llouter frictionv elements".L p

-Y f5'.j1A'.-cush1oning' Ineclianisinlv comprising wai'dly extending? wedge-shaped portion, said element f'beiiig adapted yto'function asa 130 front* follower vwhen used; with., railway dra-ft rigging and provided with a transverse slot adaptedzto receivefa horizontal draft key, said slot ext'ending into.- the wedge-shaped portion. for decreasing the necessary' length of the element, a rear frictionelement formed with. a. forwardly extending wedge-shaped portion, both of said wedge-'shapedy portions providing transversely disposed inwardly sloping friction; surfaces,.friction shoes positionedbetween said; front and; rear friction elementsl and formed with correspondingly inclined` friction surfaces, one of saidl shoes engaging'the upper inclined surfaces and the` other engaging the lower inclined surfaces onV the front. and rear friction. elements, said shoes beingformed, respectively,with upwardly downwardly opening pockets,`

' resilient' means positioned-therein, and an 111.-.

\ positioned in said pockets and maintained energized by engagement with the embracing follower, and retaining bolts connecting the termediate? follower surrounding said shoes and resilient means.' and providing surfaces against which said resilient means engage forv energizing the saine andcausingzthem to.y press said shoes into engagementwith the friction surfaces on the front and rearelements. v

6; A cushioning'mechanism` comprising outer friction velements' formed Vwithtransverse walls and wedge-shaped portionsrprovided with inclined friction surfaces extend'- ing inwardly therefrom, intermediate friction elements positioned therebetween. .and

formed with correspondingly incl-inedy fric-7 tion surfaces engaging; the friction surfaces on Vthe-outer elements, an intermediate follower embracing said friction elements, and retaining bolts extending through. apertures in said outer friction elements and follower and servingas guides for the. latterfand for retaining the parts. of the mechanism as;-

Y sembled relation.

7. A cushioning mechanism comprising outer friction elements formed with. inwardly tapering portions, friction shoes positioned therebetween and formedy with correspondingly inclined friction surfaces engaging the surfaces of the: tapered portions of the outer elements., said shoes bei-ng formed with, respectively, upwardly and downwardly/opening pockets, an intermediate follower .device V embracing said shoes and disposed between said. outer friction elements, resilient means outer friction elements above and below the friction shoes and lpassingthrough apertures in the intermediatevfollolwer for guiding the SERRE. v

f 8'. `A cushioning mechanismcomprising outer friction elements formed with transverse wall-s and wedge-shaped 'portions ex'- tend-ing inwardly therefrom andv providing inclined friction surfaces thereon, friction shoes positioned` therebetween, one above and gaging the inclined surfaces-'of' the `tapering portions .ofthe-outer friction elements, said shoes` being provided, respectively, with upwardly and downwardly opening pockets, an

. intermediate'followersurroundingsaid shoes and disposed between the outer friction 'elements, resilient means engaged insaid pockets and energized by contactl with the follower, retaining means connecting the outer friction elements above and below.' the friction shoes and passingthroughV apertures in said intermediate follower for guiding the same,v

and coil springs surroundingv said connecting means on opposite sides of said follower for resiliently urging the outer friction elements therefrom. to effect release of the gear.y

10. In adraft rigging, in combination, a cushioning Vmechanism comprising a vfront friction element formed: with a rearwardly extending wedgeshaped portion, said 'element vbeing adapted Vto* function as a frontb follower and provided withk aftransverse slot therethrough, a yoke embracing said4 cushioning Y mechanism andA provided with slots registering with the slots in Vthe front` fric-'f tion element, and a key extending through the slots in the yoke and the slot in the front friction element yfor connecting the parts'together and to associated draft sills, the slot insaid friction element extending linto Vthe wedgeshaped portion for 'decreasing the vnecessary length of the gear-,fa rear friction' element formed. with -a`- forwardly extending wedgeshaped portion, the rear 'surfaceof which normally engages the rear portion of the surrounding yoke, both kof said wedge-shaped portions providing transversely disposed in wardly sloping -friction surfaces, friction shoes positioned between said `frontand rear friction elements and formed with correspondingly inclined friction surfaces, one of said shoes engaging the upper and the other engaging the lower inclined friction surfaces on the friction elements, resilient means engaging, respectively, on the upper and lower4 surfaces of said upper and lower friction,

shoes, and an. intermediatefollower sur-2 rounding said shoes and resilient means for stressing the latter and causing said shoesto be pressed into engagement with the friction surfaces on the front and rear elements` 1l. A cushioning mechanism comprising 5 outer friction elements formed with inclined friction surfaces extending inwardly therefrom, one of said outer elements being provided with a slot adapted to receive a draft key, intermediate friction elements positioned between said outer friction elements and formed with correspondingly inclined Y friction surfaces engaging the frictiony sur'-y faces onthe outer elements, and means for operatively holding said intermediate fric-4 tion elements in engagement withthe fricl tion surfaces on the outer friction elements.v

12. A cushioning `mechanism comprising y outerfriction elements formed with trans-v verse walls and wedge-shaped portions pro- .y vided with inclined friction surfaces extending inwardly therefrom, intermediate friction elements positioned therebetween and formed with correspondingly inclined fric tion surfaces normally engaging the friction surfaces on the outer elements, a follower disposed between said outer friction elements and embracing said intermediate friction ele ments, resilient means disposed between said fOllower and intermediate friction elements to press the latter into engagement with the inclined friction surfaces on the outer friction elements, said follower being provided with lateral extensions formed with apertures and longitudinal guiding elements passing through said apertures and secured to said outer friction elements.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

DONALD s. Bannws. 

